What year was the MLS founded?

Major League Soccer was founded in 1993.

Its creation was tied to the United States' successful bid to host the 1994 FIFA World Cup. As part of that effort, U.S. Soccer committed to establishing a Division I professional soccer league, helping bring top-level men's soccer back to the country after the North American Soccer League folded in 1984.

The year 1993 marks MLS's founding, but the league did not begin playing matches immediately. Major League Soccer was formally organized as a company in 1995, then launched its inaugural season in 1996 with 10 teams.

The first MLS match took place on April 6, 1996, when the San Jose Clash defeated D.C. United 1–0 at Spartan Stadium. This distinction explains a frequent confusion: 1993 is the founding year, while 1996 is the year MLS began competition.